I'm a little late to the party here, and I haven't read everything written on this, but I don't understand the uproar and I doubt my concerns have been addressed.
So here's the question: What exactly are a superintendent's duties and how is Jennings not qualified? I know the usual answer, that the superintended is supposed to make decisions about and to oversee the education being delivered by the school system. To a certain extent, I believe this holds up, but the ability to directly guide the discussion on how to educate is becoming a less and less important part of the job. It is my understanding that a lot of the decisions about how education is done are being made on the state and federal level. Look at the Profiles of Learning (state). Look at No Child Left Behind (federal). It's becoming more and more clear to me that if the Minneapolis Public Schools wants to have any voice at all in how it educates its students, it needs a superintendent that will be heard on the state and national level. David Jennings seems to be the best candidate around when only this aspect of the job is considered. So the question again, though slightly reworded: How is politics *not* the most important aspect of the job in this day and age? What actual educational decisions will David Jennings be making that have not been offloaded to a state or federal level; why is he unqualified to make these decisions; and why are these decisions so important (more important than those made at a state or national level) that they shouldn't be made by a subordinate? Regards, Ethan Jewett the Wedge (but at school in Chicago) Quoting Shawn Lewis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > I find the argument to select David Jennings as superintendent > lacking. Why? The Members of the School Board "know him," > Carol Johnson has "worked" with him, he is political astute: > "So much that happens in public schools is controlled > in part by the state and federal level,"- oh, please! > Basically, increased tests, standards and expectations for > students and teachers, however, no credentials, lower > standards and expectations for the superintendent position. > My, My. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
